Early on in the North Brunswick-Northeastern softball playoff game, it was apparent it would be a tight one.

"I talked to the coach of the other team after the second inning," Northeastern coach Chuck Wimpey said. "I said, 'Normally it's the team that scores first wins. This is going to be the game for the team that scores last.'"

Justin Falls/The Daily Advance (ENLARGE)

Northeastern's Caroline Umphlett pitches during the Lady Eagles' 5-4 victory over North Brunswick in a 2A state playoff game Tuesday at Northeastern High School.

The statement held true, and the Lady Eagles were glad to have the final at-bat.

Northeastern answered the Scorpions' two-run seventh with two runs of its own for a 5-4 victory on Tuesday at Northeastern High School.

"We hit the ball well and we played great defense," Wimpey said. "Caroline (Umphlett) did a great job on the mound and Hannah Chappell was an inch from going yard. Miranda Owney hit the ball well and so did Anna Pierce. It was just a really good effort by everybody."

With the Scorpions up 4-3, Owney led off the top of the seventh with a grounder to third. The throw took the first baseman off the bag and Owney was safe. North Brunswick's center fielder made a diving stop on Pierce's single to keep Owney from scoring.

Pierce took second uncontested, then Chappell swung at a wild pitch for strike three. Chappell reached base to negate the out and Owney scored the tying run.

Kristen Singletary then hit a sharp line drive off the top of the shortstop's glove, plating Pierce with the winning run.

"We were coming up with the top of our lineup, we started off with our leadoff, which really helped us, the way the bottom of the seventh fell," Wimpey said.

North Brunswick (11-12) erased a 3-2 deficit in the top of the inning with three singles and a sacrifice fly to score their final run. The Lady Eagles got a runner advancing to third on the throw, ending the rally with their second double play.

In the fifth inning, the Lady Eagles had a scare. Umphlett made a tag at the plate when a runner attempted to score on a passed ball, but the runner's foot jammed her pitching hand on the slide. After three practice pitches, she finished the game.

"My hand was hurt, but I've learned to suck it up and go back, because I'm here to win," Umphlett said.

Umphlett ended the game with 10 strikeouts.

Singletary, Pierce and Owney each had two hits for the Lady Eagles. Owney and Morghan Stallings each doubled. Pierce scored twice in the win.

"We played excellent tonight," Umphlett said. "Our bats were working and it was an overall good game."

Northeastern (12-6) will play host to East Duplin, a 12-1 winner over West Bladen, for a second round game on Friday.